The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-09-02
Ladies Department.
The Curse of the World.


book refers, of course, to intemper
ance, and the author goes thoroughly
into the causes, effect and cure.
Perhaps 10 man in the country is
better fitted to produce a work like
this than the author, A large por-
ton of his life has been devoted to
the study of this curse of the world,
and for many years he has been the
superintendent Of the Home in Chic
ago in that capacity The
book, as a whole, is worthy of the
perusal and study of every man and
woman, and especially by parents.
There ia a wide spread ignorance up
on the subject OF intemperaDce. About
the extent of the worlds knowledge
in this regard is that liquor makes
men drunk and that drunkenness is
disgusting, and destructive of mans
usefulness and happiness. Beyond
that people in general known nothing
and think nothing. Yet little
thought must show every intelligent
person that the subject is a compli-
Gated one, and that intemperance is
the curse of the world, the subject
ought to be understood in all its in.
tricacies. There is one prolific cause
of intemperance and that is ignor-
ance of the effect of alcohol. No at
tempt is made to teach the child
this in the average family, for the
very good reason that the parent does
not know anything about it himself
or herself. The child sees drunk
en- man, but that teaches him nothing
except that If man drinks enough
he will get drunk. The way to avoid
drunkenness is not to drink too
much, is the conclusion than the boy
naturally comes to. But that is not
the way as those have made study
of the subject know. The on
" sure way to avoid it is not to
drink at all. But many of our youth
will drink. They do not believe that
they will become drunkards. No
body does when he begins to drink;
and they do not believe it because
they have no knowledge of the sub
ject. And it is not solely question
of becoming a drunkard. The rule
is that a man who drinks becomes
one. That is the rule. There are a
hundred chances to one against a
young mans living life OF sobriety
if he takes one drink. There are except
ions, of course, but the rule is well
established. But the injury physi-
caly, mentally and morally which is
inflicted by indulgence in liquor, Is
as important as any other considera-
ton. Liquor is an enemy to the ply
steal structure, though it may be TAX
en- in such small quantities as not to
visibly affect the brain, and the light
er drinks such as lager beer, by no
means harmless. Prof. Wilkins has
at the Home some of the internal Or
gans of habitual drinkers and they
show the effect of liquor in very
startling light. There are pictures of
these specimens in this book. The
result upon the organs of drinking
moderately, and to excess, is clearly
shown; and one of the worst looking
stomachs that can he imagined
is that of a man who never
drank anything but lager beer
Prof. Wilkins devotes considerable
space to combating the theory Of her
edity as related to the drinking hab-
it. 1t is a subject with two sides to
it, and some of the evidence present
ed by those who believe in heredity
seems almost conclusive. Indeed,
there are instances on record in which
the child of periodical drinker
would show signs of intoxicatfon at
periods corresponding with those at
which the parent would yield to his
appetite, and has continued the ex-
hibition all his life. Those of us who
are familiar with laws of heredity
and with the freaks Of heredity, as
they may be called, must be willing
to admit that it is a delicate position
to deny that they do not operate in
intemperance. Still Prof. Wilkins
makes a strong argument against
heredity and whether the reader
agrees with him or not, he must
agree, if he is at all familiar with
mems appetites and passions, that
man can control himself if he will.
He is created with will and the
will will be the master if it is given
a fair show. The advocates of here
dity and the too sympathetic have
done the drunkard great deal of
harm by excusing him for his weak
ness. He should be held RESPONSE
BILE. There is entirely too much
sympathy for men who give way to
their weakness. They should be held
responsible. A man is not baby to
be coddled. Give him a reasonable
education as to the effects of intoxi-
eating liquors and then hold him re-
sponsible. No man, whether he
claims to have inherited an appetite
for liquor or not, will claim that
there is any serious conflict in keep
inc awav from tho first olasS ofl;opor